Clathrin-mediated endocytosis, the most prominent endocytic mode, is thought to be generated primarily from relatively flat patches of the plasma membrane. By employing conventional and platinum replica electron microscopy and super-resolution STED microscopy in neuroendocrine chromaffin cells, we found that large Ω-shaped or dome-shaped plasma membrane invaginations, previously thought of as the precursor of bulk endocytosis, are primary sites for clathrin-coated pit generation after depolarization. Clathrin-coated pits are more densely packed at invaginations rather than flat membranes, suggesting that invaginations are preferred sites for clathrin-coated pit formation, likely because their positive curvature facilitates coated-pit formation. Thus, clathrin-mediated endocytosis closely collaborates with bulk endocytosis to enhance endocytic capacity in active secretory cells. This direct collaboration between two classically independent endocytic pathways is of broad importance given the central role of both clathrin-mediated endocytosis and bulk endocytosis in neurons, endocrine cells, immune cells, and many other cell types throughout the body.

Original languageEnglish
Article number103809
Number of pages14
JournaliScience
Volume25
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Feb 2022

    Research areas

  • Biological sciences, Cell biology, Endocrine regulation, Neuroscience, VISUALIZATION, FUSION, EXOCYTOSIS, MECHANISMS, RELEASE, FORMS, MEMBRANE RETRIEVAL, MODES, CURVATURE, FISSION

    Scopus subject areas

  • General

ID: 91970594